Palestinians and Israelis react to French vote recognizing Palestine

Reaction is mixed between many Palestinians and Israelis after France's parliament votes to recognize Palestine as a state. Mana Rabiee reports.

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Cheers in France's parliament, as French lawmakers adopt a motion to recognize Palestinian territories as a nation state.
The move is entirely symbolic … it won't immediately change France's diplomatic stance.
But in the West Bank town of Ramallah … reaction was - not surprisingly - positive.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN MAN FROM RAMALLAH, IBRAHIM ABUKHATIR, SAYING:
"It is positive news and confirms that the Palestinian issue is right and we are going in the right direction."
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN YOUTH FROM RAMALLAH, ZAID JINDIYA, SAYING:
"This step, for some people, is only symbolic but it is very important to the Palestinian people."
But in the Israeli town of Netanya … a very different reaction all together.
Many here echo the reaction of the Israeli government .. saying the vote only jeopardizes chances for an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI FROM NETANYA, ALEX MAYOR, SAYING:
"I think the vote for the Palestinians in the Parliament of France will be something very bad for the politics of the France nation."
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI FROM NETANYA, FRANK MAMO, SAYING:
"I think the vote of the French Parliament is not a good thing, it will be not help for the discussion between and Israeli and Palestinians."
The vote in the French National Assembly follows similar resolutions by Britain, Spain, Sweden and Ireland … western nations that had become increasingly impatient with the stalled Mideast peace process.

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